[Entering Level 11.]
Ah. This felt strange.
I had made it to Level 11...
By this point, even at the absolute worst, I had to be among the top one percent of participants.
Honestly, it had been almost too easy. Every time a monster appeared, I drove a Puppet Needle into it. Then I killed time while waiting for the Skill’s recharge period before advancing to the next Level.
It was easy enough to make me wonder whether this was really okay.
Still...
I had suffered my way through this line of work for twenty years, then returned to the past without even remembering a single winning lottery number. I deserved at least this much, didn’t I?
In any case, the Gatekeeper of Level 11 was standing before me, wings spread wide as it opened its sharp beak and let out a threatening cry.
“SKREEEE!”
【Red-Crested Cockatrice】
【Level】: 17
【Performance Score】: 8,000
A Cockatrice...
For someone who had Awakened only two days ago, it was an absurdly strong opponent.
Honestly, I did not think I could survive a direct fight against it either.
Considering the gap between the Cockatrice’s Level and mine, even approaching it to drive in a Puppet Needle was dangerous.
But I was not alone.
“Go, Tarantula!”
The moment I gave the order, the Giant Tarantula sprayed spiderwebs across the entire field ahead.
The Cockatrice sprang into the air, easily avoiding the webs. Then it beat its short wings and lunged at the Tarantula with its claws extended.
“SKREEEE!”
My precious Tarantula swiftly flipped its body over and fired another stream of webbing.
The Cockatrice sliced through the webs with its blade-like claws and charged forward. Soon, the two enormous monsters were tangled together in battle.
The Cockatrice repeatedly pecked at the Tarantula with its long, spear-like beak.
The Tarantula curled its eight legs around its opponent, holding it tight as it continuously sprayed webbing.
Good! That is far enough!
I did not want either of them getting hurt.
While the Cockatrice was distracted by the Tarantula, I circled behind it and drove a Puppet Needle into its tail.
The Cockatrice stopped attacking and raised its head.
Its eyes rolled around before stopping on me.
“Coo?”
Welcome, friend.
[Entering Level 12.]
Who would show up this time?
【Blood Bear】
【Level】: 18
【Performance Score】: 12,000
“ROOOAR!”
A house-sized bear covered in crimson fur reared up on two legs and threatened me.
The Giant Tarantula hurriedly stepped in front of me, as though protecting its master.
Then the Cockatrice, which had been waiting out of bounds, flew back into the arena and took its place beside the Tarantula.
“GRRRR...”
The Blood Bear seemed to realize that the situation in front of it was not normal.
Perhaps pressured by its numerical disadvantage, it shut its mouth and began cautiously backing away.
At the sight, my two Puppets stepped forward with lively strides.
The Blood Bear was pushed all the way to the edge of the arena.
As though its pride refused to let it retreat any farther, it let out a long roar and charged forward.
That’s right! That’s the spirit!
I will remember your courage!
“Cocka! Taran! Move out! Take it easy, though! Nobody gets hurt!”
In an instant, three massive monsters became entangled in battle.
The 25m × 25m arena quickly became cramped.
The Levels of the monsters had risen, but thanks to having more monsters I could control as Puppets, subduing them was much easier.
Before long, I was able to drive a Puppet Needle into the Blood Bear’s rear.
“Rrr?”
“Welcome, Blood Bear. From now on, you’re part of Kim Daram’s team.”
That had gone smoothly.
It took less than five minutes from entering Level 12 to subduing the Blood Bear.
I could have opened the reward chest and advanced immediately, but I planned to stay here a little longer and say goodbye to the Giant Tarantula.
I could use three Puppet Needles at once.
One of them, I always kept in reserve.
Then I used it on the Gatekeeper of the next Level.
That was my strategy.
At this rate, it feels like I could Clear any number of Levels without trouble.
The higher I went, the stronger the monsters would become.
But I would always have the Gatekeepers from the previous two Levels at my sides. In terms of combat power, I would not be lacking at all.
“I wonder if I might become the first person ever to Clear the Stage.”
Despite being a Safe-Rated Stage, the Stage used for the Hunter Selection Assessment had never been officially Cleared even once.
Reentry was impossible, for one thing. More importantly, unless someone received the Easter egg, there was not enough benefit to justify risking one’s life by continuing through the Levels.
On the other hand, for nineteen-year-old Awakened receiving the Easter egg’s effect, its difficulty was far beyond anything they could possibly Clear.
A little later, the Puppet Needle embedded in the Giant Tarantula expired.
The Tarantula circled around me with a puzzled look. I quietly waved to it.
The Tarantula raised one leg and waved back as though returning the greeting.
Then it disappeared.
Taran, you worked hard.
Take care.
Now it was time for Level 13.
*****
More than ten hours had passed since the participants entered the assessment Stage.
During that time, nearly five thousand participants had returned from the Stage to reality.
Yet the border marking the Stage entry zone still had not lost its blue glow.
That meant the Stage had not yet ended.
It also meant that someone was still climbing inside.
Last year’s Hunter Selection Assessment winner had remained inside the Stage for ten hours and seven minutes.
Seo Yerin, the winner that year, had opened a total of fourteen reward chests before returning to reality.
Even compared to previous years, her record had been exceptional.
But now, the electronic display hanging from the dome’s ceiling showed that ten hours and thirty minutes had passed since the Stage opened.
At the same time, quiet anticipation began to take root among the Hunter Association personnel.
Something extraordinary might be happening.
Buying Dicks: Why hasn’t the light gone out? Don’t tell me someone’s still inside? It’s already been over ten hours and thirty minutes! Could someone from this year’s group actually beat Class Rep’s record?
Kind Words, Kind Heart: Idiot, quit making a fuss for no reason. Do you think Level 14 is child’s play? I bet both the participant and the monster got incapacitated. That’s why the Stage hasn’t closed yet.
Only Son for Three Generations: Please learn the basics before speaking. Every Level has a one-hour time limit, and once that time runs out, the participant automatically advances to the next Level.
Even if both the participant and the monster were incapacitated, the participant would automatically advance, get killed by the newly appearing Gatekeeper, and the Stage would end.
And you call someone else stupid... How embarrassing. Truly embarrassing.
Kind Words, Kind Heart: Yeah, thanks so fucking much for explaining that.
But more importantly, can you seriously tell me who you are? I’ll give you a fruit. Let’s meet up.
Only Son for Three Generations: A fruit? You only have those lukewarm-mud-flavored ones. I would rather suffer Encroachment than eat that garbage.
Kind Words, Kind Heart: You... you bastard... How do you even know that...
I’m a Healer, Take Me Along: So that means someone is still advancing through the Levels? Wow, that’s amazing!
Only Son for Three Generations: A total of 5,024 people have returned to reality so far. Whoever comes out next, I cautiously predict that they will be the last.
Kind Words, Kind Heart: Bullshit. You counted every single one of them?
Only Son for Three Generations: Anyone with functioning eyes could do it. Are you blind now too?
Kind Words, Kind Heart: Hoo... Just wait. Someday, we will meet. We’ll see each other then.
Only Son for Three Generations: I can see you right now, though.
Kind Words, Kind Heart: You son of a bitch! Where are you?!
Buying Dicks: Oh, someone came out! Whoa, but that guy is completely covered in blood...
A participant drenched from head to toe in blood appeared in the center of the previously empty dome.
He gripped a crimson greatsword in one hand as he panted harshly.
It was none other than Sa Jeil.
Realizing he had escaped the Stage, Sa Jeil dismissed the greatsword in his hand.
He had lost too much blood, and not a bit of strength remained in his body. It would likely take at least a week for him to recover fully.
Still... I made it past Level 14.
That was the same record set by Sa Heedo, the current guildmaster of the Death Notice Guild and Sa Jeil’s father.
In truth, Sa Jeil had intended to surpass his father’s record somehow and Clear Level 15.
But the nearly four-meter-tall Minotaur that appeared as Level 15’s Gatekeeper was an opponent he simply could not defeat.
After exchanging a few blows, fleeing out of bounds and barely preserving his life had been the right choice.
In the distance, operations staff and emergency healers who had been waiting outside the entry zone came running toward him.
That’s right. Hurry up and come escort me. I’m the Level 14 achiever who will carry Korea’s future.
But something was strange.
The border separating the Stage entry zone was still glowing blue.
As far as Sa Jeil knew, that blue glow was supposed to disappear the instant the final participant returned.
What? Don’t tell me someone is still...
Then another participant appeared a short distance away from Sa Jeil.
Flames roared around him from head to toe like a suit of armor.
He turned his head from side to side, looking around the place where he had appeared.
Once he realized he was somewhere safe, he dropped heavily to the ground.
The flames covering his entire body vanished as though washed away, leaving behind a small-framed young man with bright yellow dyed hair.
That... that bastard...
Sa Jeil’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t that the little brat who had been hanging around Kim Daram?
That little shit lasted longer inside the Stage than I did?
Unable to stand it, Sa Jeil strode over to him.
Then he abruptly asked,
“What Level?”
“Huh! You’re that psycho, Sa Jeil?”
The brat picked a fight with him with an innocent expression.
But Sa Jeil endured it in order to continue the conversation.
“Correct. My name is Sa Jeil.”
“I’m Lee Hasol.”
“I was not asking to exchange names. I asked how far you made it.”
“Me? I came out on Level 16.”
Sa Jeil could not hold himself back any longer.
“That’s impossible! You Cleared Level 15?”
He grabbed Lee Hasol by the collar and lifted him into the air.
Lee Hasol did not particularly resist. He simply dangled there and stared at Sa Jeil.
He remembered what Kim Daram had told him.
Don’t start trouble, and don’t take it either.
Daram had been right.
This much was easy enough to ignore.
Then an old man with a full head of white hair but the powerful build of an athlete thrust his head in and suddenly asked,
“Son, what did the one from Level 16 look like?”
Lee Hasol answered obediently.
“It had a lizard’s head. It was a little taller than me, and it held a sword and shield... It was way stronger than any of the monsters I saw before.”
“Yes, we call those lizardmen. They are beings with intelligence similar to humans. Depending on the individual, some can possess strength comparable to that of our Awakened. You did well to come back unharmed after facing one. Thank you.”
The old man patted Lee Hasol’s head as though he were proud of him.
Then he spoke to Sa Jeil, who was still gripping Lee Hasol by the collar.
“You did more than well too. How many people in Korea do you think have made it past Level 14 immediately after Awakening? You have every right to be proud.”
“Tch.”
Sa Jeil released Lee Hasol’s collar and stepped back.
Any person who had chosen Hunter as their profession would recognize that old man’s face.
The operations staff who had been rushing over spotted him and hurriedly bowed.
“Chairman!”
“Yes, yes. Hurry along. These two will become pillars of Korea’s Hunter world in the future. Make sure they are properly cared for and able to recover fully.”
“Yes, sir!”
The healers crowded around and began examining Sa Jeil and Lee Hasol.
Sa Jeil relaxed his stiff muscles and left his body to their care.
Even if the yellow-haired brat’s words were true, it was only a one-Level difference.
And that was no more than taking one step ahead at the starting line.
A single step would not determine the result of a race that lasted a lifetime.
There was no reason to keep dwelling on it.
Sa Jeil did his best to calm himself.
Then the Chairman’s voice, speaking with the executives nearby, drifted into his ears.
“By the way, it seems there is still one person inside. This year is truly a bumper crop. I cannot help thinking it is all because I have steadily accumulated merit. Wouldn’t you agree? Hahaha!”
What?
Sa Jeil quickly turned his head.
This is insane...
The blue light around the entry zone still shone brightly.
There’s one more person inside?
One person flashed through Sa Jeil’s mind.
...Kim Daram.
Sa Jeil clenched his fist with all his strength.
He had to struggle desperately to suppress the killing intent boiling up inside him.